A spell that turned the Colombo final into a procession and sealed India’s eighth Asia Cup crown
It was meant to be a grand finale, a clash between two legendary Asian cricket warriors. Instead, the 2023 Asia Cup final in Colombo turned into a one-man show.
On September 17, Mohammed Siraj tore through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up with a spell of such venom and precision that it left 30,000 fans in stunned silence and millions around the world in awe.
Dasun Shanaka’s decision to bat first seemed bold on a slightly tacky surface. Within minutes, it appeared reckless. Jasprit Bumrah delivered the first blow, finding Kusal Perera’s edge in the opening over. Then, with the scoreboard reading 8 for 1, Siraj came into the attack. What happened in the fourth over of the innings was scarcely believable: four wickets in six balls.
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Pathum Nissanka was caught at point, Sadeera Samarawickrama was pinned leg-before, Charith Asalanka chipped meekly to cover, and Dhananjaya de Silva edged behind.
In a single over, Sri Lanka had been reduced from 8 for 1 to 12 for 5, their hopes shredded in minutes. Siraj became the first Indian ever to take four wickets in an over in ODIs.
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By the time Siraj had finished his sixth over, Sri Lanka were struggling at 12 for 6, matching the joint-lowest score at that stage in all ODI history. He completed his five-wicket haul in just 16 deliveries — the fastest ever by an Indian in ODIs.
His final figures of 6 for 21 made him only the second bowler to take a six-for in Asia Cup history, surpassing Waqar Younis’s 6 for 26 against Sri Lanka back in 1990.
India’s dominance was emphasised by the fact that 263 balls remained unused in the chase, making it their most decisive ODI victory by deliveries remaining.
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Sri Lanka’s scorecard was a catalogue of collapse. At 40 for 8, they were in danger of being bowled out for the lowest ODI total ever. Only Dushan Hemantha, with an unbeaten 13, showed resistance, ensuring they scraped to 50 in 15.2 overs.
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It was the lowest total ever recorded in the final of a men’s ODI tournament. Hardik Pandya’s 3 for 3 from 2.2 overs provided the perfect complement to Siraj’s carnage.
Kusal Mendis’s 17 was the top score, highlighting both the dominance of India’s pacers and Sri Lanka’s hapless batting.
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The target of 51 was never likely to challenge a batting line-up full of confidence. Shubman Gill, coming off a successful season, hit 6 fours in his unbeaten 27, while Ishan Kishan scored a swift 23.
The pair completed a victory in just 6.1 overs. India won by 10 wickets, claiming their eighth Asia Cup title with clinical efficiency.
As the 2025 Asia Cup approaches, with India again aiming for glory, Siraj’s spell serves as a reminder of how one bowler, on form, can influence the outcome of a major match before it even starts.
